by Guy Page
Since the Trump administration began in January, there’s been no big push by federal authorities to arrest illegal immigrant gang members in Vermont for the simple reason that gangs like Tren de Aragua have no significant presence in the Green Mountain State. However, detainees for immigration-related arrests are being held longer than usual.
That’s a thumbnail description of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity from the perspective of a Migrant Justice spokesperson who was visiting the State House Tuesday. A large group of people affiliated with Migrant Justice, an advocacy organization supporting people who have entered the U.S. unlawfully, were in the State House. VDC took the opportunity to ask the spokesperson about their interactions with ICE.
On an average week, ICE agents arrest about 2-3 people of the Vermont population Migrant Justice represents on charges connected with their immigration status, the spokesperson said. The numbers of arrests haven’t increased much since the beginning of the Trump administration, she said.
However, the average stay for detainees in the Corrections system has lengthened, she said. Under the Biden administration, the average detention stay in a Vermont prison was a day or two. Now it’s longer. She’s not sure why.
The detainees are not gang members, as Vermont’s migrant population is not gang-connected, she said. Most of the detainees were arrested for failure to make court dates or otherwise comply with federal law and regulations.
New Yorkers busted for human smuggling of Indian nationals – In another immigration criminal justice matter, The US Attorney for Vermont on March 27 announced charges against two New York residents, Tyler Kenneth George Leavine, 34, of Dannemora, and Jody Lynn McGuire, 52, of Plattsburgh, for illegally transporting three Indian nationals within the United States. The three Indian citizens—Sandeep Chawla, 34, Jay Sisodiya Kumar, 27, and Chintan Patel, 29—have also been charged with illegal entry into the country.
Leavine and McGuire made their initial court appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Jerome J. Neidermeier on March 26. The judge ordered that both remain in detention while awaiting trial. Chawla, Kumar, and Patel pleaded guilty to illegal entry charges and were sentenced to time served. They had faced a maximum penalty of six months in prison.
According to court records, U.S. Border Patrol received a tip in the early hours of March 26, about a possible smuggling attempt in the vicinity of Hunter Road North in Alburgh. Agents responded and observed a vehicle with New York registration driving slowly through the area. Surveillance cameras later captured several individuals running toward the stopped vehicle in a gas station parking lot.
Border Patrol agents quickly intervened, stopping the vehicle and discovering McGuire and Leavine in the front seats, with Chawla, Kumar, and Patel in the back. When questioned, the three passengers identified themselves as Indian citizens. A subsequent search of Department of Homeland Security databases revealed that none of the three individuals had legal authorization to enter or remain in the United States.
Leavine and McGuire later admitted to authorities that they had been paid to transport the individuals.
While Chawla, Kumar, and Patel have already been sentenced, the legal process continues for Leavine and McGuire. They face up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. However, the final sentencing will be determined by the District Court, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that the criminal complaints contain allegations and that Leavine and McGuire are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Swanton Sector is hiring – The U.S. Border Patrol is seeking to reinstate former Border Patrol employees to work in the Swanton Sector, the tri-state border area covering eastern NY, all of Vermont, and western New Hampshire. The Swanton Sector Facebook Page states: ‘A Reinstatement opportunity is now open to former Border Patrol Agents who are seeking to return to the U.S. Border Patrol. Locations in Swanton Sector are available! Click here for details: https://go.dhs.gov/wxz.”